Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the hard work of the Special Commission on the Situation of Vieques, which recently delivered its final report to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I would especially like to recognize the Honorable Anibal Acevedo Vila, who very ably served on this commission representing the Popular Democratic Party, for this tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Vieques as well as the general population of Puerto Rico. The conclusion reached by the Special Commission is that the U.S. Navy must cease its activities on the island of Vieques and return the occupied territory to the people of Vieques as soon as possible. I am pleased to note that the Governor of Puerto Rico agreed with the report's findings and recommendations and adopted them as Administration policy. I have reviewed the report and was very impressed by the Commission's extensive research and findings. I have the report available for Members of Congress and urge all to call me for copies, and if not for the page limit, I would publish it at this point in the Congressional Record. Again, my congratulations to the Special Commission on the Situation of Vieques for their fine work in investigating U.S. Naval operations on the island.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I rise to call for the immediate suspension by the Clinton administration of the May 1995 Migration Accord with the Cuban dictatorship and to urge the adoption of a serious U.S. policy of assistance to the Cuban internal opposition, and other steps to accelerate the liberation of Cuba and an end to the refugee tragedy, as well as to the threats to U.S. national security posed by the Castro dictatorship, all of which are being covered up and ignored by the Clinton administration. This administration's policy towards Cuba can no longer hold. The administration cannot continue to sweep the Cuban crisis under the carpet. The Cuban crisis and the tragedy of the oppression of the Cuban people must no longer be treated as an immigration issue. We must address the issue comprehensively as one of vital U.S. national security, including the need to stop Cuban narcotrafficking, a congressional hearing on which will take place very soon. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and their staffs for their critical work on this very serious matter. We also have to realize that this problem, the problem of the Cuban dictatorship, is one of biological weapons development, of promotion of international terrorism, of destabilization of the Western Hemisphere, of alliances with rogue states in furtherance of anti-American interests, and of the promotion of international criminal activity. The way to solve the immigration problem is to solve the national security problem and the tragedy of the oppression of the Cuban people. Before Castro's takeover of Cuba in 1959, never, even during the worst poverty of the economic depression of the 1930s, not only were there no rafters, there was not even 1 year when the U.S. quota allotment of immigrant visas for Cuba was filled. The Cuban people are not an emigrant people. They are desperately seeking freedom today due to the totalitarian oppression and economic destruction caused by the Castro dictatorship. Yesterday, off the coast of Miami Beach, we saw an unfortunate demonstration of the profoundly unacceptable nature of the Clinton policy of focusing on the Cuban tragedy as an immigration issue. The policy is deeply flawed. The United States should immediately, one, first suspend the immoral and illegal Clinton-Castro Migration Accord of May 1995, which violates the generous tradition of the American people with regard to refugees from Soviet Bloc countries and also violates the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966. Secondly, inform Castro with all clarity that any attempt to fabricate a new crisis for the United States, such as by attempting to send massive amounts of refugees, shall be responded to with immediate U.S. action which would include a naval blockade of Cuba, not only of refugees which would be returned to the Cuban shore, but also of all oil shipments to the island. And, thirdly, initiate a serious and vigorous program of assistance to the Cuban internal opposition and other steps to hasten the demise of the Cuban dictatorship and the reestablishment of democracy and the rule of law in Cuba. The time has come, Madam Speaker, to end the suffering and oppression of Cuba, not to fire water cannons and pepper spray on defenseless Cuban refugees trying to swim to freedom.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, a message to Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, Dr. Leonel Morejon Almagro, William Herrera Diaz, Marco Lazaro Torres, and Rolando Munoz, and the scores of others who have joined throughout the island of Cuba 3 days ago in protest to reject the violation of human rights and demand democracy for the Cuban people: We are with you. We will continue with you. You have our support, our solidarity, like all of the heroic political prisoners in Cuba; such as Vladimiro Roca, Marta Beatriz Roque, Feliz Bonne, Rene Gomez Manzano, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez, Maritza Lugo, Rafael Ybarra Roque, and the thousands of others. And, Madam Speaker, I am still waiting to see the first time when someone in this body who advocates trade and tourism for Castro comes down here and advocates freedom for the thousands of Cuban political prisoners.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that the gentleman from Washington has an announcement to make. Or I would insist on my point of order.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, if I may at this point speak to the point of order. I have the highest respect for the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt). He speaks from conviction on this issue. As he mentioned, we have had and will continue to have very intense and serious discussions on this point. I also believe that markets that should be open to the United States at this time are not fully open, the first one being the European Union. The European Union, in violation even of accords entered into with us, continues to put up barriers on essential products of American producers. And so this is a key issue. If there has ever been a matter where the wisdom of the rule, in this case clause 2 of rule XXI prohibiting legislation on an appropriations bill, it is on an issue such as this. This is a very serious matter that we are discussing today. On the one hand, we all agree that all that can be done to open markets to U.S. producers, including and very especially our farmers, must be done. At the same time, we must recognize that the issue of trading with, opening an entire sector, a very important sector of the economy, of the U.S. production to sponsors of State terrorism is a very delicate matter and a very serious matter which requires great deliberation and study. That is why the rule is wise and it is the committee process and the deliberative process that must bring to the floor legislation dealing with critical matters such as this. When we talk about states such as North Korea, state sponsor of terrorism, or the Sudan where the President recently ordered an air strike against a medicine manufacturer, is that the only option that should be available to the United States? Military action? Or should sanctions be available to the United States in lieu of and instead of military action? This is a very serious question. Should we tie our hands so that the only action available in American diplomacy is military action? It is a very serious question. When we deal with the issue of the dictatorship in Cuba, 90 miles away, a state sponsor of terrorism, a safe haven for international terrorists with over 100 fugitives from U.S. justice responsible, the state itself with its air force in addition to that for the murder of U.S. citizens, unarmed U.S. citizens over international waters, when we discuss opening of U.S. market, the U.S. market to that state, that regime, that is a very serious matter. And so in essence what I am saying, with all respect to my colleague, and we will continue discussing this issue, yes, we must find ways to help America's farmers, but without helping America's enemies. And we will continue our discussions. They are intense, they are sincere, they will get to the heart of this matter, at the same time protecting the U.S. national security, in essence the national interests of the United States. And so at this time, unless my dear colleague has an announcement to make, I would have an announcement to make myself.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I know that that is a confidence, but knowing, as I do, that Castro does not make those purchases now, I was curious to find out where the gentleman says that they are made now by Castro based on the fact that he has promised to make them in theory from us.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Everywhere. Mr. Chairman, could the gentleman give me where that everywhere is?

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman said that he came up with incredible numbers that I had not heard before about what Castro says he would buy from the United States. I think the gentleman said $800 million in rice and $500 million in chicken. Where does he buy that from now? Does the gentleman from New York know?

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, if I insist on the point of order, what would be the difference between the gentleman withdrawing and my insistence on the point of order with regard to how it would affect debate?

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt). This is an issue that needs debate. Every single country in the world is not only geographically, but historically and sociologically and politically in a different situation and in a different moment with regard to the certainty that it will have a democratic transition the moment of that democratic transition, and to broad-brush this issue, certainly again I would reiterate the wisdom of not doing so on an appropriations bill at the same time that I reiterate my willingness to continue discussions with those people like the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) who feel so strongly out of good-faith in this issue, not out of support for dictatorships, but out of good faith, and I will continue our discussions because it is dangerous to broad-brush, it is indispensable that we not and that we recognize that sending signals to countries; for example, some terrorist states that have absolutely no way that they can pay, sending signals to them that they will no longer be sanctioned, that they will be in a situation where the American market will be open to them before liberation of political prisoners or free elections are held can be very destructive at this particular time. So I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I look forward to further discussions on this issue which must not be broad-brushed and which must remain leaving to the United States the option in particular instances of not having to have recourse to military action as the only way in which the United States can act.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn). (Mr. COBURN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. House Resolution 185 is an open rule, providing for the consideration of H.R. 1906, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2000. The rule waives clause 4(a) of rule 13, requiring a 3-day layover of the committee report, and Section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act, prohibiting consideration of legislation within the Committee on the Budget's jurisdiction, unless reported by the Committee on the Budget, against consideration of the bill. Further, the rule waives clause 2 of rule XXI, prohibiting unauthorized and legislative provisions in an appropriations bill, against provisions in the bill. As has become standard practice since the 104th Congress, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Record prior to their consideration priority in recognition to offer their amendments. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone votes during consideration of the bill and reduce voting time to 5 minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 15-minute vote. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. I would like to urge my colleagues to support this open rule on our first appropriations measure to come to the floor in the 106th Congress, Agriculture Appropriations. I commend the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), for their hard work in producing this year's bill, which provides significant assistance for agriculture. I know that spending levels are extremely tight, and I believe they did a good job of working within their limits. The Agriculture Appropriations bill funds programs that help benefit each of us every single day. From improving nutrition to helping ensure safe and nutritious food to put on America's tables, the funds in this bill make it possible for less than 2 percent of the American population to provide food that is safe, nutritious, and affordable for all 272 million people in the United States of America, as well as others throughout the world. I have consistently been an admirer and supporter of American agriculture, and I commend the hard work and efficiency of the American farmer. I am pleased to support both this open rule providing the means to bring forth this legislation today and the underlying bill. I urge my colleagues to support this rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 185 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would simply request support for this rule. It is an open rule. Any concerns or opposition that Members may have with regard to the underlying legislation can be dealt with through amendments. If there are colleagues who believe there is too much spending, they can propose amendments to cut spending. All of that is permitted under a totally open rule. And so I would ask all of my colleagues to support this rule so that the process can go on and so precisely debate on the legislation, including any disagreements, may also go on and take place in this House today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I was disturbed to hear that the Defense Minister of India, George Fernandes, led a meeting of some of the world's most repressive regimes at which they agreed that their main goal was to ``stop the United States,'' according to the Indian Express. Fernandes himself called the United States ``vulgarly arrogant.'' This should offend anyone who cares about this country. Countries represented at this meeting, according to the newspaper, were Communist China--which has been stealing American nuclear secrets and pouring illegal money into our political campaigns, Libya, Russia, Serbia--the country we are currently fighting, Saddam Hussein's Iraq, and Castro's Cuba. Now, Mr. Speaker, I know a bit about Cuba. Castro's dictatorship in Cuba is one of the most brutal in the world. It has killed and tortured thousands of its opponents. By now, we all know the stories of how the Indian government has killed tens of thousands of Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Dalit untouchables, and others. Just in recent months, I am informed that an Australian missionary named Graham Staines and his two young sons were burned to death in their Jeep by a militant theocratic Hindu Nationalist gang affiliated with the RSS, which is also, I am told, the parent organization of the ruling BJP. I am informed that there are 17 freedom movements in India and the ongoing political instability there may be bringing India's breakup close. We should support the peaceful struggle for freedom throughout India. India destablized South Asia with its nuclear weapons' tests. It was a close ally of the Soviet Union and supported the invasion of Afghanistan. I am told that it has the most anti-American voting record of any country in the United Nations with the exception of Cuba. Why does a government like that continue to receive aid from the United States? Mr. Speaker, the time has come to stop supporting governments that actively work against us. We should cut off all American aid to India and declare our support for the freedom movements through democratic plebiscites. These are important steps to extend the hand of freedom to the people of South Asia.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to protest a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights by the Clinton administration. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated. Mr. Ramon Saul Sanchez, the President of the Democracy Movement, has been on a hunger strike in Miami for 16 days. He began this protest on May 5 to protest the illegal confiscation of the boat, The Human Rights, by the Coast Guard, acting on orders from the Clinton-Gore White House. The small boat was confiscated for the crime of carrying copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the high seas the same day that dissidents within Cuba had announced that they would peacefully be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That apparently seditious document for the Clinton administration reads, everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence. Mr. President, today is Cuban Independence Day. Bring an end to the hunger strike. Return The Human Rights to the Democracy Movement.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has devoted his life to God and who has served faithfully as a priest for 30 years. Reverend Monsignor was born on March 12, 1943, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1969, after completing his seminary studies at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of Sacred Theology. His many ecclesiastical achievements began in 1969 when he was Regional Coordinator for Religious Education in Broward County. From 1970 to 1977 he was Director of the MA Program in Religious Studies. A member of the Faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary from 1972 to 1974, he was also Secretary of the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education from 1974 to 1978. In 1978 he was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Miami and served in that capacity until 1993. In addition, he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia in 1984, a position in which he served until March 1995. In this capacity he served as Executive Director of the Ministry of General Services. Besides membership on various Archdiocesan boards and commissions, he is also Chaplain to the Daughters of Isabella. At a Pastoral level, Msgr. La Cerra was Associate Pastor at Annunciation, Little Flower (Coral Gables) and St. James Parishes. From 1978 until May 15, 1991 he was named Pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral. In December of 1992 he was appointed administrator of St. Timothy Parish in Miami and currently he holds the Pastoral position. He was given the title of Reverend Monsignor by the highest authority of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, in September of 1995. We are fortunate to have this admirable Monsignor in South Florida and I commend Reverend La Cerra for his many accomplishments.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, this supplemental appropriations conference report contains critically needed resources for our armed forces to assure that they continue unchallenged as the finest fighting force in the world for the protection of the people and the freedom of the people of the United States. Mr. Speaker, the conference report, among other things, contains aid for America's farmers, and it contains humanitarian and development assistance for our neighbors in Central America who suffered the recent natural disaster known as Hurricane Mitch. I think, Mr. Speaker, this Congress today makes a clear demonstration of solidarity with and concern for the well-being of our friends and neighbors in Central America. I wish at this point to thank all of those who have worked to make this a reality, especially the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Bill Young), the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), and all of the congressional leaders who have made this day possible. It is a day in the best tradition of the generosity of the American people, and I rise to support the rule, as well as the underlying legislation.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I was in total agreement with everything that was said until my last distinguished colleague spoke. I think that it is most unfortunate that this be utilized for partisan purposes, this topic, because if there is one topic that should not be utilized for partisan purposes, it is a disaster. When we had a disaster in the Midwest not long ago, in order to comply with the budget agreement signed by the Congress and the White House, there were offsets. At this point there is debate in the conference committee with regard to how much and in order to comply with the budget agreement entered into between the Congress and the White House, there may be the need to offset. What that means is that other programs, future spending may be looked at in order to comply with an agreement between the House, the Senate and the White House. But I do not want to get further into that. What I want to say is what there is consensus on is what we have heard for the most part this evening, and that is the need to help our friends and neighbors in Central America and, secondly, that we will help our friends and neighbors in Central America and that there is a commitment from the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Committee on Appropriations to accomplish this in the vehicle that is being negotiated right as we speak, the supplemental appropriations legislation, which is commonly known as the Kosovo supplemental appropriations, because of the fact the Kosovo conflict has gone on for as long as it has gone on and there are dire needs that our military have, extraordinary needs that our Armed Forces have as a consequence of that operation that must be taken care of immediately, that must be addressed forthwith. I am glad that there is consensus, that we will be moving forward on this issue, that there is the commitment that exists from our leadership rooted in the national interest of the United States as well as in humanitarian grounds to resolve this issue forthwith. I am grateful to our leadership for committing to resolve this issue, and I will continue working with all intensity to do everything I can so that the issue of our assistance that we have committed to our friends and neighbors in Central America that we will be providing is in fact provided. I would again reiterate my gratitude to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch) for bringing forth this motion to instruct, which has given us the opportunity to focus upon an issue of consensus, the need to help our neighbors and our friends in Central America. I would simply remind our friends and neighbors in Central America, distinguished friends, I think they know who their best friends are as we know who our best friends are. I remind the President of El Salvador and the President of Guatemala that they did not act a few weeks ago as our best friends when they abstained on a motion, a resolution introduced by the government of President Havel of the Czech Republic to remember the only people in this hemisphere, our neighbors as well, the only people who remained in effect bound and gagged and oppressed for 40 years. That was a most unfortunate vote by Guatemala and by El Salvador which deeply disappointed us, but as we stated before, we are hopeful that as that summit approaches in November the ethical conduct, the ethical path will be embarked upon. Again I thank the gentleman from Florida. This House is united on this issue. We have a leadership that I believe is united on this issue. I know the gentleman has been extremely interested and has exerted great leadership on it. It has been my privilege to work with him, and it will be my privilege to continue working with him to see it through and to make certain that this aid which we have committed to our neighbors and our friends will forthwith in fact be provided. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger), one of the few Members of our House who has, through the years, assisted more, given more of his time and his efforts to help the people throughout Central America.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We have a number of speakers who have asked on our side of the aisle to join this motion to instruct conferees, which is very timely and a very good idea, and I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch) for it. We have been working very diligently, Mr. Speaker, and will continue to do so on this project. I am hopeful, we are hopeful, that we will meet with success with regard to this very important foreign policy initiative, which, in addition to its importance to U.S. foreign policy, because our neighbors are our friends and we must not forget our best friends and neighbors, in addition to that, there is a very definite humanitarian aspect to what we are doing that calls us to make sure that this aid package is carried forth and included, the Central American aid, in the appropriations supplemental bill that is being at this time finalized. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), one of my distinguished friends, colleagues, and the chairman of the Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.